Scott Reneker reflects on 32 years as Jefferson County Auditor

FAIRFIELD – Scott Reneker decided it was time to call it a career after 32 years as Jefferson County Auditor.

Reneker did not seek re-election to the post that he has held every year since he was first elected in the fall of 1992. He said he actually made the decision a few years ago in 2021, when his wife retired from teaching at Pekin where she had taught for 31 years.

“At that time, I decided this would be my last term,” he said.

Reneker is a native of Fairfield, and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1980. He attended Iowa State University, where he graduated in 1984 with a finance degree.

“I have always kept careful records of my money even as a small child collecting pop cans, mowing lawns and delivering newspapers,” he said. “I enjoyed tracking and saving money, so I thought I would probably end up working in accounting or investments.”

In 1991, members of the local Republican Central Committee asked him if he would consider running for auditor.

“The job appealed to me because I was interested in politics and conservative policies as well as liking the variety of responsibilities the office holds,” said Reneker on why he decided to run for the office.

County auditors in Iowa have a “comprehensive” set of duties, Reneker said. They are considered the “business office” of county government, and are responsible for preparing the annual operating budget. They also determine taxable valuations, tax increment financing, and calculate property tax statements.

“The auditor also prepares payroll, pays bills, maintains accounting records, and maintains the official plat of property ownership,” Reneker said. “Auditors are Clerks to the Board of Supervisors, and Commissioner of Elections, and maintain the county voter registration list. It is an interesting office!”

Reneker said that when he assumed office in 1993, a lot of work had to be done by hand like the budget, valuation work and utilities calculations. He said software improvements over the years made a big difference in how he did his job, including after his office got internet in 2001.

“We also used to have 30-40 visitors to our office every day, mostly to research the real estate plat records and have photocopies made,” Reneker said. “All of that changed when the information became available online.”

Reneker said the part of the job he liked best was its variety and flexibility. He took great pride in having hired “an efficient, knowledgeable, personable staff that will keep the office running smoothly going forward.” The part of the job he enjoyed least was when county policy decisions were made that he did not think were necessarily in the best interest of taxpayers.

Reneker is looking forward to spending more time traveling and with his family.

“Our daughters are in college, and they have always kept us very busy with activities,” he said. “We all love to travel together as a family, so we hope to be able to do more of that.”

Taking Reneker’s place as Jefferson County Auditor is newly elected Christy Conner, who previously worked in the Treasurer’s Office across the hall in the courthouse.

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Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com